Global Peace and Justice Auckland picketed Blair's speech to an
audience of businesspeople and politicians at Eden Park today. But
Blair avoided an attempt to have him charged with war crimes after
protesters said anyone who could get within earshot of him and make
a citizens arrest could claim a $4500 bounty offered by a British
columnist.

"Several hundred thousand civilians killed and that means that
we've got war crimes as a result of an illegal invasion. So we're
saying that Tony Blair should face the music. He should go on trial
at the international criminal court," veteran activist John Minto
said.

The group said the decision was illegal because it was made on
the premise that there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq,
which was later found to be false.

The protesters said his speaking engagement, called "An audience
with Tony Blair - lessons in leadership, negotiation and
innovation", should have been renamed "supporting a war criminal -
lessons in lying, deceit and mass murder."

Inside, Blair told a 300-strong group at a business lunch at
Eden Park that the west is having a crisis of confidence. He said
the solution to the eurozone crisis and US debt situation is to
deal with the underlying problems and not be afraid of reforms.

Blair also talked about the need for peace in the Middle East
and said work must be done to press back the influence of Iraq.

There was tight security for his visit with only approved
journalists allowed inside, among them ONE News reporter Garth Bray
who said the protesters could not be heard from inside the
venue.

No cameras or laptops were allowed and there was a heavy police
presence at the venue, with officers surrounding the stadium.

Tickets were not cheap - starting at $500 and up to $1500 for a
photo opportunity with Blair.

Lunch included a gourmet meal, premium beverages, a pre-cocktail
party and a souvenir programme.

Sky City chief executive Nigel Morrison said Blair was a great
prime minister for many years and they were keen to hear what
he had to say.

ANZ Bank chairman Sir Dryden Spring said while everyone doesn't
agree with Britain's involvement in the Iraq war, Blair is an
international statesman.

Media pressure

Blair has admitted to a grudging respect for Rupert Murdoch,
saying the power of the media in the UK is such that these people
are big players and you have to engage with them.

But the former leader said he is concerned that the focus is on
News International. While Murdoch is the most high profile, Blair
said there are other newspapers and their proprietors who are very
powerful in the UK.

"I think there is an issue to do with the media as a whole and
politics and modern democracy.

"If you are a political leader, if they're for you they're
totally for you, but if they're against you they go out to destroy
you."

Blair believes if there is one good thing that can come out of
the phone scandal that brought down the News of the
World
http://tvnz.co.nz/world-news/kiwi-journo-blames-enemies-closure-4291581
it would be to get back to the proper distinction between reporting
the news and having comment.

"It's the mixing of those two things that is dangerous," he
said.

Blair was uncertain whether the inevitable changes from the
scandal will end up with a healthy relationship between politics,
the media and democracy. But he said it could and "if it does it
will be to everyone's benefit".

Referring to the recent tragedy in Norway , Blair said he believes
Europe is experiencing a cultural backlash from the world of
globalisation which has seen people pushed together.

"How we make that cultural melange work is probably the most
pressing issue of the 21st century," he said.

Globalisation is not going to be wound back, Blair said,
pointing out that it is being driven by people not governments.

"This is the world we live in," he said. "People are voting with
Facebook, Twitter."

Acknowledging that some people feel threatened, Blair said he is
personally excited and is driven by a desire to try to bring people
together in some understanding.